People are shining their swords, secretly helping the Iron Triangle in Northwest Shanxi

Li Yunlong's order was issued, and all battalions immediately launched operations.

Xing Zhiguo, deputy commander of the new regiment, led the fourth battalion, fifth battalion, and cavalry battalion to start a circuitous route to the north.

Li Yunlong personally commanded the first battalion, second battalion, and artillery battalion to launch operations.

As for the mountain artillery battalion transferred from the Tang Chunming Artillery Regiment, an artillery position was set up in the rear to be responsible for cover.

The new regiment under the independent detachment has a directly affiliated artillery battalion, which is equipped with six infantry cannons, six mortars, and six Jinshan cannons.

After all, Li Yunlong is still serving as the leader of the New Regiment, and his weapon configuration is definitely higher than that of the New Second Regiment and the Independent Regiment.

Li Yunlong was determined to win Yuanyang City, and he also planned to completely annihilate the fourth brigade of the 18th Regiment here.

Of course, Li Yunlong still doesn't know that those stationed here in Yuanyang City at this time are elite Japanese troops.

Matsutaro Tanabe, captain of the 18th Regiment, even personally commanded the operations here in Yuanyang City.

As the first battalion, second battalion, and artillery battalion directly under the new regiment gradually advanced, at around three o'clock, the troops from both sides began to fight one after another.

The first and second battalions adopted an alternating advance method, and they focused their attack on Sunzhuang.

Li Yunlong's tactics were very simple. He broke through Sunzhuang's position, then quickly advanced towards Yuanyang City. After capturing Yuanyang City, he surrounded and annihilated the nearby Japanese troops.

However, the Little Devils adopted a strategy of focusing on defending peripheral positions. Their main troops were deployed for defense on the periphery.

The First and Second Squadrons of the Fourth Brigade were respectively stationed in the front-line defenses of Shizhai Town and Sunzhuang in the area west of Yuanyang City.

The third and fourth squadrons were stationed in Dongguan Town, northwest of Yuanyang City, and Maozhuang, southwest of Yuanyang City.

The four infantry squadrons are each equipped with three Type [-] heavy machine guns to strengthen defense.

The first squadron and the second squadron respectively strengthened their defenses with an infantry cannon and a rapid-fire cannon.

In Yuanyang City, there is the wing headquarters of the 18th Wing, as well as the heavy equipment squadron directly under the Fourth Brigade!

The northern Henan area is a plain area without any highlands.

Yuanyang City is close to the Yellow River, and there is no high ground. The Sunzhuang area is flat and there is no danger to defend, and it is easy to attack but difficult to defend!

The second squadron is equipped with three heavy machine guns, an infantry cannon, and a rapid-fire cannon, with a total of more than [-] troops.

Because they are a field squadron, their own strength is not weak. They are equipped with nine light machine guns, nine grenade launchers, and about a hundred rifles.

Of course, facing the two infantry battalions and two artillery battalions of the New Regiment, they had no advantage at all.

In particular, two infantry battalions and one artillery battalion are gradually advancing. The artillery battalion's mountain artillery, infantry artillery, and mortars have established artillery positions.

The machine gun companies directly under the two battalions have even set up covering positions.

The four flat-firing guns and six heavy machine guns of the first battalion's machine gun company began to set up positions and prepared for cover.

As long as the little Japanese troops here in Sunzhuang have firepower, they will quickly carry out suppressive shooting.

Three infantry companies had already advanced rapidly, and hundreds of infantrymen took turns covering the tendons.

Each squad moved forward in groups and separated skirmish lines from each other.

A battalion of more than a hundred people gradually advanced to a distance of less than [-] meters from Sunzhuang.

The 60MM mortar directly under the company headquarters began to find a location to set up and prepare for cover.

The grenadiers directly under the platoon also began to look for suitable positions, preparing to cover the infantry advance.

But at this time, the grenade detachments of various squads under the Second Squadron of the Little Devils began to carry out combat operations.

The three grenade detachments took action one after another, and nine grenade launchers launched shellings one after another.

The squad leader raised his telescope for observation, kept giving orders, and quickly adjusted each grenade to launch grenades.

The grenades were launched directly, and these grenades landed accurately on the new regiment of troops.

As the explosion sounded, shrapnel spread in all directions, and the attacking soldiers were hit.

Many gunners and grenadier operators had just completed their transfer and were preparing to set up weapons when they were directly hit.

Although the grenade equipped by the little devil has a sight, it is just a decoration.

If you shoot according to the sight, the grenade will basically not hit the target.

But the grenade launchers like the little devils are very powerful. They can skillfully control the grenade and can basically hit the target accurately.

For an elite unit like the 18th Regiment, the grenade launchers are battle-hardened and have rich experience.

On such a flat terrain, they can easily hit wherever they point, and can accurately hit the target with one shot.

Moreover, their shooting is also targeted. The mortars and grenade launchers of each company are the main targets of the little Japanese grenade launchers.

The little Japanese grenade hand fired three or four grenades and quickly transferred.

It was at this time that the little Japanese rifleman started aiming and shooting.

The continuous impact was about [-] meters away from Sunzhuang, and the [-] or [-] riflemen of the little devils took aim with their Type [-] rifles.

They put up the sight gauge, adjusted the buoy to the [-]-meter position, and then started aiming and shooting.

The crisp sound of Type 6.5 gunfire rang out, and rounds of [-]MM Tomosaka bullets were fired one after another.

A machine gun shooter carrying a light machine gun was hit by bullets one after another.

These machine gunners fell to the ground one after another, with bright red blood flowing out.

The little Japanese riflemen are very cunning. They move immediately after the fight without stopping at all.

Zhang Dabiao, who was commanding the battle, raised his telescope to observe, his expression becoming more solemn.

We haven't even gotten close to the Japs' position yet, and there are casualties on our side.

He began to organize the machine gun battery to conduct suppressive shooting, and six heavy machine guns opened fire.

Heavy bullets were fired towards the position, and the soldiers took the opportunity to accelerate their advance.

But at this time, the infantry artillery deployed by the Little Devils in Sunzhuang began to target and shoot.

"Target enemy machine gun position, distance [-] meters, heading two o'clock."

"Load grenades, test fire one round, then load shrapnel, and fire five rounds rapidly!"

A second lieutenant raised his telescope to observe, and then the Japanese second lieutenant immediately issued an order.

The Type [-] infantry artillery fired immediately, and a grenade landed directly on the machine gun position.

Six heavy machine guns of the first battalion's machine gun company were hit by grenades, and they wanted to relocate.

However, at this time, the Little Japanese infantry artillery launched five consecutive rounds of rapid fire.

Five consecutive rounds of shrapnel were fired towards the machine gun position. As the shrapnel fell on the position, countless steel balls scattered in all directions.

The soldiers were completely defenseless and were constantly hit by steel balls. They fell in a pool of blood one after another.

Some soldiers had expressions of pain on their faces, and bright red blood continued to flow from their wounds.

"Boom boom boom."

At this time, a new artillery battalion covering the operation began to fire.

Six infantry guns, six 82MM mortars, and six Shanxi orogen cannons fired one after another.

A large number of artillery shells were fired towards Sunzhuang one after another, and the soldiers advanced quickly.

But when the soldiers advanced to about [-] meters, the Second Squadron of the Little Devils began to concentrate their artillery fire.

Light machine guns, rifles, and heavy machine guns fired accurately, and dense bullets were fired. The little Japanese light and heavy machine gun shooters fired continuously, and the bullets were fired almost one after another.

The soldiers advancing towards Sunzhuang suffered casualties one after another. In a short period of time, their casualties exceeded one hundred.

The First Battalion, Second Battalion, and Artillery Battalion advanced towards Sunzhuang one after another, but they were hit one after another and could not get close to the position at all.

The battle lasted from three o'clock to five o'clock. For more than an hour, the first and second battalions were still unable to break through from the front.

The two hundred or so little devils don't have many troops, but they control the Sunzhuang position. Their troops are relatively scattered and not very concentrated.

Therefore, the new regiment's strength and weapon advantages were completely unable to be used, and the two hundred meters distance was almost an insurmountable barrier.

As long as the soldiers attack here, they will be attacked by intensive firepower from the Japs, causing heavy losses.

Li Yunlong soon discovered this, and at [-]:[-], he directly stopped the troops' attack.

"Da Biao, how did you command that two infantry battalions and one artillery battalion were beaten so badly?"

"Not to mention Sunzhuang, even the outer positions of Sunzhuang were not controlled, and more than [-] casualties were incurred."

"The Japs in Sunzhuang only have a force of more than [-] people at most, but your force of thousands of people turned into such a bear?"

"Have the weapons and equipment been ready? You, Zhang Dabiao, don't dare to fight the little devil with a big knife."

Li Yunlong came to Zhang Dabiao, he glared and shouted loudly.

Such a result was unacceptable to him, Li Yunlong.

"Captain, I..." Zhang Dabiao was Li Yunlong's old subordinate for many years, and he still used to call Li Yunlong "captain."

At this time, Zhang Dabiao wanted to explain, but Li Yunlong did not give him a chance to explain.

"What do you want to say? It's not just you Zhang Dabiao who lost the battle."

"The Lijiapo 772 Regiment also lost the battle, but you, Zhang Dabiao, have to figure it out."

"Lijiapo is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but as for Sunzhuang, it's a flat plain and easy to attack but difficult to defend."

"If word of this spreads, other troops will not laugh at our new regiment, which is well-equipped with weapons and equipment, but its combat effectiveness is getting weaker and weaker."

"I tell you Zhang Dabiao..."

Li Yunlong continued to scold, but before he could finish his words, fierce gunfire started coming from the north.

This was when Xing Zhiguo commanded the 18rd Battalion, [-]th Battalion, and the Cavalry Battalion as they were detouring toward the north, they directly encountered the Fifth Battalion of the [-]th Regiment and other troops.

The Fifth Brigade, with the cooperation of twelve mortars, directly launched an attack operation.

The troops on both sides launched a fierce battle, and the little Japanese troops were obviously well prepared.

The Fifth Battalion attacked with all its strength, and a large number of mortars continued to shell.

At around six o'clock, Xing Zhiguo quickly arranged for the cavalry battalion to provide cover, and the troops of the third and fourth battalions quickly evacuated.

Li Yunlong received reports from the front line one after another. As the sky became dark, at around seven o'clock, the new regiment was temporarily forced to retreat.

They gave up the attack on Yuanyang City and retreated directly to the west, temporarily out of the scope of Yuanyang City.

In this battle, the first and second battalions failed to attack Sunzhuang and suffered more than [-] casualties.

The third and fourth battalions detoured towards the north, also suffering more than [-] casualties.

Four infantry battalions, total casualties exceeded [-] people.

If the cavalry battalion had not quickly detoured and feinted to attack the Little Japanese mortar unit, their casualties and losses would have been even greater.

Li Yunlong's face didn't look good at this time, and he looked towards the cadres with cold eyes.

Xing Zhiguo and others lowered their heads, not daring to look at Li Yunlong at all.

"There are more than [-] little Japs. Their main force has not yet been dispatched. One encounter has caused more than [-] casualties to us."

"The New Regiment has more than [-] troops. It's shameful. It's really shameful. If this gets spread, the New Regiment will lose all its face."

"How are you commanding? If you have weapons and equipment, you don't know how to command operations."

"I think you don't have the spirit of fighting back then. If you had the spirit of fighting back then, you wouldn't have lost such a battle."

Li Yunlong raised his voice and said with an unhappy face.

Originally, he was counting on winning the battle in Yuanyang City, but he was defeated.

This made Li Yunlong very angry, and he wanted to hit someone.

"Old Li, don't be angry. There is something really wrong with these little devils in Yuanyang City."

"They are completely different from other little devils. Their riflemen can hit almost [-] times from a distance of three to four hundred meters."

"You have to know that they rely entirely on mechanical aiming and can do this. They are definitely sharpshooters."

"With such a distance, if our whole group can hit accurately, more than ten people are considered good."

"But as for them, there must be twenty or thirty sharpshooters like this in the army of more than two hundred people."

"This kind of troops will definitely not be ordinary little devils. I think they must be elites!"

At this time, Zhao Gang came to Li Yunlong and explained hurriedly.

"Elite, the Sakata Wing is not elite, and the Special Operations Wing is not elite?"

"I'm telling you, Lao Zhao, I'm fighting the elite these days!"

Li Yunlong lost his temper, but turned against him and refused to recognize anyone.

He stared at Zhao Gang shouting loudly.

Zhao Gang saw Li Yunlong like this and shook his head helplessly.

He called the communications troops and immediately arranged for them to send a message to Chen Ziyun.

There was silence in the regiment headquarters, and the cadres were silent.

But around [-]:[-], the little Japanese troops in Yuanyang City began to gather.

Captain Tanabe Matsutaro personally directed the battle, and the [-]th and [-]th Battalions quickly attacked.

Twelve mortars followed, approaching a force of [-] men, and charged directly towards the new regiment.

At half past eight, the two sides started a fierce battle in the area west of Yuanyang City.

The Imps continued to attack in squadron sizes, and they focused on strengthening flank attacks.

Even individual squadrons, with about [-] troops, dared to launch large-scale detours and attack directly from the side and rear.

The two artillery battalions had just set up artillery positions and were preparing to support operations, when they began to be attacked by the Japanese troops.

Under such circumstances, the new regiment had to retreat again and temporarily broke away from contact with the 18th Regiment.

The 18th Regiment from the Third Division stole the show on the battlefield!

After repelling the new regiment, Matsutaro Tanabe began to contact the communications corps to generate electricity.

He asked the Sixth Brigade and the Artillery Brigade to attack directly from the Makino City area and directly counterattack Li Chongtao's First Brigade.

And he commanded the fourth and fifth brigade, the mortar unit, to quickly attack in a roundabout way from the south. (End of chapter)